Longtime Slashdot reader theodp writes: “Our goal is,” Amazon founder Jeff Bezos said in a February 2021 Instagram post announcing the opening of a second tuition-free @BezosAcademy preschool in Tacoma, Washington. explained. Regardless of your zip code, you are a lifelong learner. ”
Three years later, a new Amazon SEC filing reveals just how important zip codes are, even to Bezos, the world's third-richest person. GeekWire reports: “New Amazon [SEC] A filing detailing Jeff Bezos' plans to sell some of his company stock sheds new light on his move from Seattle to Miami and his ability to avoid Washington state capital gains taxes. I'm guessing. [ironically, earmarked to be funneled into early-childhood education programs and school construction] in the process. Amazon's founder and executive chairman adopted a transaction plan on Nov. 8 to sell up to 50 million Amazon shares by January 2025, according to filings. . This will be the first time he has sold his Amazon shares since 2021. The adoption comes less than a week after Bezos announced on Instagram on Nov. 2 that he was leaving his longtime home in Seattle for sunny Miami. In his Instagram post, Bezos said he wanted to be closer to his parents and the Florida space venture Blue Origin. He did not mention taxes. ”
“Considering Mr. Bezos recently left Washington, where he founded Amazon and built it into a global behemoth, the plan is to sell up to 50 million shares, which would amount to around 600 million That would equate to about $600 million at the company's current stock price, which would otherwise save his former home state, Center Square reported Monday. It was supposed to be a tax revenue. The capital gains tax passed in 2021 was paid on more than $250,000 from the sale of stocks and bonds, with some exceptions that impose a 7% tax on any gains. It was challenged in court but ultimately ruled constitutional by the state Supreme Court last year. The tax brought in nearly $900 million in its first year of collection. Revenue will be directed toward early “education and child care programs and school construction projects.'' ”
Of course, it's no secret that Bezos hates taxes. Mr. Bezos considered building Amazon on an Indian reservation near San Francisco to avoid taxes, and raised $100,000 to defeat a Washington state income tax proposal aimed at improving public education in the state. The battle (participated in) by Microsoft and Steve Ballmer) has been characterized as an unconstitutional attempt to force Amazon to collect and pay sales tax, and has been criticized by ProPublica for not paying income taxes for several years. He was criticized.